Silver halide color photographic light-sensitive material having a wide latitude

ABSTRACT

A silver halide color photographic light-sensitive material improved in graininess, comprising a support having thereon a red-sensitive silver halide emulsion layer, a green-sensitive silver halide emulsion layer and a blue-sensitive silver halide emulsion layer, wherein at least one of the red-sensitive emulsion layer and the green-sensitive emulsion layer has the three-layered structure, in which the low speed silver halide emulsion layer, medium speed silver halide emulsion layer and high speed silver halide emulsion layer are coated on the support in this order; and the coating amount of silver in the layer increases in the order of the medium speed layer, low speed layer and high speed layer.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a silver halide color photographiclight-sensitive material, more specifically to a silver halide colorphotographic light-sensitive material having a wide latitude in a highexposure portion and good aptitude for rapid processing, as well as animproved graininess and storage stability of the 3-layered silver halideemulsion layers.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In recent years, a silver halide color photographic light-sensitivematerial (hereinafter referred to as a color light-sensitive material)is making marked progress in quality of images, and a multilayerstructure has come to be used in each of the red-sensitive silver halideemulsion layer, green-sensitive silver halide emulsion layer andblue-sensitive silver halide emulsion layer for much higher imagequality and much wider latitude. Such multilayer structure isparticularly useful for the improvement of graininess.

Many techniques are known as a means to improve graininess of a colorlight-sensitive material. For example, British Patent No. 923,045disclosed a technique to enhance sensitivity without impairing thegraininess by distributing couplers of the same color to a high speedemulsion layer and and a low speed emulsion layer, and adjusting themaximum optical density of the high speed layer to a low level. But thistechnique is not enough to provide a good graininess.

One technique was proposed in Japanese Patent Examined Publication No.15495/1974, where at least one of the red-sensitive silver halideemulsion layer, green-sensitive silver halide emulsion layer andblue-sensitive silver halide emulsion layer has a sensitivity whichdecreases in the order of the top layer, intermediate layer and bottomlayer, besides maximum optical densities in the top and intermediatelayers are set below 0.6. While this technique can noticeably improvethe graininess in medium and high density portions, it is liable tocause a high fog density.

Another technique is described in Japanese Patent Open for PublicInspection No. 91945/1987; that is, in a light-sensitive material havingat least one emulsion layer of a 3-layered structure consisting of a lowspeed silver halide emulsion layer, medium speed silver halide emulsionlayer and high speed silver halide emulsion layer, setting the maximumoptical density in said medium speed silver halide emulsion layer andlow speed silver halide emulsion layer to 0.8 or more is proposed forimproving the graininess of an insufficiently exposed portion. But thismethod cannot provide a good graininess in medium and high exposureportions of the green-sensitive silver halide emulsion layer.

Since the green-sensitive silver halide emulsion layer has the highestspectral luminous efficacy among these color-sensitive layers, qualityof this layer is one of the key contributing factors to the property ofthe light-sensitive material. Particularly, deterioration in thegraininess of this layer impairs the overall impression of a colorimage. Therefore, in forming a green-sensitive three-layered silverhalide emulsion layer, distribution of silver halide to each of the highspeed layer, medium speed layer and low speed layer is very important,and many of the attempts made till now were to use a larger amount ofsilver halide in high speed and medium speed layers and a less amount ina low speed layer. As a result, problems have come to arise in thegraininess in a middle to highlight portion and the latitude in a highexposure portion, thereby it is difficult to obtain a fairly widelatitude by this method.

Moreover, such attempts were to solve overall problems of the graininessin a color light-sensitive material with three-layer structure of layerssensitive to the same color; therefore, it is difficult to attain a highquality image expressible fine texture of human skin by a colorlight-sensitive material having simply a red-sensitive three-layerstructure. To attain this object, there are required much moretechniques for proper distribution of silver amount to each of the highspeed, medium speed and low speed emulsion layers; setting of an optimumgrain size; addition of a coupler capable of forming a slightly-mobiledye, etc. But improvement in gradation of the medium and low speedemulsion layers inevitably increases the amount of a dye forming couplerused in these layers and thereby results in uneven graininess, losingcapability of expressing delicacy of the skin texture.

Further, the distribution of silver to the medium speed layer (themedium layer) and the low speed layer (the lower layer) in a largeramount than that to the high speed emulsion layer (the upper layer)causes troubles such as silver retention in a red-sensitive layer in arapid process because the red-sensitive layer is the closest to thesupport.

Taking notice of the above conditions, the present inventor has studiedhow to improve the graininess in both of the green-sensitive silverhalide emulsion layer and the red-sensitive silver halide emulsion layerand found that an excellent graininess, a wide latitude in a highexposure portion of the green-sensitive layer, and an improved storagestability of the red-sensitive layer, as well as a good aptitude forrapid processing of the light-sensitive material can be attained byprescribing the order of arrangement of the high speed, medium speed andlow speed emulsion layers in the three-layered structure and the amountof silver used in these emulsion layers.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A first object of the present invention is to provide a silver halidecolor photographic light-sensitive material excellent in graininess.

A second object of the present invention is to provide a silver halidecolor photographic light-sensitive material improved in graininess ofthe green-sensitive silver halide emulsion layer of three-layeredstructure.

A third object of the present invention is to provide a silver halidecolor photographic light-sensitive material improved in graininess ofthe red-sensitive layer and aptitude for rapid processing of thelight-sensitive material as well as in storage stability.

In a silver halide color photographic light-sensitive materialcomprising a support bearing thereon a red-sensitive silver halideemulsion layer, green-sensitive silver halide emulsion layer andblue-sensitive silver halide emulsion layer, the foregoing objects havebeen attained by the silver halide color photographic light-sensitivematerial characterized in that one or both of the red-sensitive emulsionlayer and green-sensitive layer have the three-layered structure inwhich the low speed silver halide emulsion layer, medium speed silverhalide emulsion layer and high speed silver halide emulsion layer arecoated on a support in this order and that the amount of silver used inat least one of said three-layer-structured layer of the red-sensitiveand green-sensitive emulsion layer increases in the order of the mediumspeed layer, low speed layer and high speed layer.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is hereunder described in more details.

The silver halide color photographic light-sensitive material of theinvention has on a support the red-sensitive silver halide emulsionlayer, green-sensitive silver halide emulsion layer and blue-sensitivesilver halide emulsion layer, and at least one of these emulsion layersconsists of the low speed silver halide emulsion layer, medium speedsilver halide emulsion layer and high speed silver halide emulsionlayer. Particularly, the green-sensitive layer consists at least of thelow speed silver halide emulsion layer, medium speed silver halideemulsion layer and high speed silver halide emulsion layer, and thecoating amount of silver of these emulsion layers increases in order ofthe medium speed silver halide emulsion layer, low speed silver halideemulsion layer, and high speed silver halide emulsion layer. With thesefeatures, the silver halide color photographic light-sensitive materialof the invention can exhibit an excellent graininess and a wide latitudein a high exposure portion.

In the silver halide color photographic light-sensitive material of theinvention, the green-sensitive silver halide emulsion layer andred-sensitive silver halide emulsion layer are preferably ofthree-layered structure in which the low speed layer, medium speed layerand high speed layer are coated on a support in this sequence.

Further, in the silver halide color photographic light-sensitivematerial of the invention, the blue-sensitive silver halide emulsionlayer, green-sensitive silver halide emulsion layer and red-sensitivesilver halide emulsion layer are of three-layered structure in which thelow speed layer, medium speed layer and high speed layer are coated on asupport in this sequence.

The total coating amount of silver in the silver halide colorphotographic light-sensitive material is desirably 100 mg/dm² to 20mg/dm², more desirably 80 mg/dm² to 40 mg/dm².

The amount of silver contained in each of the low speed, medium speedand high speed layers may be arbitrarily selected within the limit ofthe total silver amount of 100 mg/dm² to 20 mg/dm² and in a manner toincrease in the order of the medium speed silver halide emulsion layer,low speed silver halide emulsion layer and high speed silver halideemulsion layer.

The coating amount of silver of the high speed silver halide emulsionlayer of the red-sensitive silver halide emulsion layer is preferablylarger than the total silver amount in the low speed silver halideemulsion layer and medium speed silver halide emulsion layer, and rangesfrom 51 wt % to 75 wt %, preferably from 60 wt % to 70 wt %.

When the silver amount in the upper layer or the high speed layer of thered-sensitive emulsion layer is 50 wt % or less of the total silveramount in the red-sensitive layer, the graininess deteriorates on ashadow portion of a portrait, one of the most important photographicsubjects, particularly on the neck and its vicinity. Deterioration ingraininess is also caused in a blue sky portion of a picturephotographed in the daytime of fine weather, leaving an unfavorablefinish of images.

When the foregoing silver amount exceeds 75 wt %, a wide exposurelatitude, a feature of the negative light-sensitive material, isdeteriorated; thus, a large difference in luminance of subjectsphotographed by amateur photographers cannot be covered and inevitablycauses deterioration in graininess or quality of images.

The low speed silver halide emulsion layer, medium speed silver halideemulsion layer and high speed silver halide elusion layer used in theinvention may be any of those which are conventionally used in thephotographic art.

In the invention, a good graininess and a wide latitude in a highexposure portion can be imparted to the light-sensitive material byincreasing the silver amount in each of the low speed, medium speed andhigh speed silver halide emulsion layer in the order of the mediumspeed, low speed and high speed emulsion layer.

The silver halide color photographic light-sensitive material of theinvention is usable not only as a light-sensitive material for thenegative but as a light-sensitive material for the positive.

In the silver halide color photographic light-sensitive material of theinvention, any of the conventional silver halide emulsions can be used.

Said emulsion may be chemically sensitized by conventional methods andspectrally sensitized to a desired wavelength range with the addition ofa sensitizing dye.

An antifogging agent, stabilizer and the like may be added to the silverhalide emulsion. Gelatin is advantageously used as binder for theemulsion.

The emulsion layers and other hydrophilic colloid layers can behardened. A plasticizer and latex of a water-insoluble or sparinglysolulble synthetic polymer may be also incorporated.

Further, there may be contained a colored coupler having a function ofcolor correction, a competing coupler and a compound which releases auseful photographic fragment such as development accelerator, bleachaccelerator, developer, solvent for silver halide, toning agent,hardener, fogging agent, antifogging agent, chemical sensitizing agent,spectral sensitizing agent or desensitizing agent upon coupling reactionwith an oxidation product of a developing agent.

In the light-sensitive material, there may be provided auxiliary layerssuch as a filter layer, antihalation layer, anti-irradiation layer, etc.In these auxiliary layers and/or the emulsion layers, there may becontained a dye capable of being bleached or discharged from thelight-sensitive material during processing.

Further, there may be added to the light-sensitive material of theinvention a formalin scavenger, fluorescent brightening agent, slippingagent, image stabilizer, surfactant, antistain agent, developmentaccelerator, development retarder, bleach accelerator, etc.

Materials for the support are polyethylene laminated paper, polyethyleneterephthalate film, baryta paper, cellulose triacetate film, etc.

To form dye images on the light-sensitive material of the invention,conventional color photographic processes can be used.

EXAMPLES

The present invention is hereunder described in more details with theexamples, but the scope of the invention is not limited to theseexamples.

The addition amount of each material in the following examples is g/m²,unless otherwise specified. The amount of silver halide and colloidalsilver is a value converted into an equivalent amount of silver. Theamount of sensitizing dyes is given in mol/mol Ag.

EXAMPLE 1

On a triacetyl cellulose film support were coated in order the layers ofthe following composition to prepare Sample 1 of a multilayered colorphotographic light-sensitive material.

Sample 1 (comparison)

    ______________________________________                                        1st layer: antihalation later                                                 Black colloidal silver (coating weight)                                                                  0.2                                                Gelatin                    0.4                                                UV-1                       0.3                                                High boiling solvent (Oil-1)                                                                             0.3                                                2nd layer: intermediate layer                                                 Gelatin                    1.0                                                3rd layer: low speed red-sensitive silver halide emulsion                     layer                                                                         Silver bromoiodide (AgI: 7 mol %, octahedron,                                                            0.6                                                grain size as converted into cube: 0.3 μm)                                 Gelatin                    1.2                                                Sensitizing dye (S-1)      8 × 10.sup.-4                                Sensitizing dye (S-2)      5 × 10.sup.-4                                Sensitizing dye (S-3)      3 × 10.sup.-5                                Coupler (C-1)              0.10                                               Coupler (C-3)              0.25                                               Colored coupler (CC-1)     0.04                                               DIR coupler (D-2)          0.05                                               High boiling solvent (Oil-1)                                                                             0.45                                               4th layer: medium speed red-sensitive silver halide                           emulsion layer                                                                Silver bromoiodide (AgI: 8 mol %, octahedron,                                                            1.0                                                grain size as converted into cube: 0.7 μm)                                 Gelatin                    1.3                                                Sensitizing dye (S-1)      3 × 10.sup.-4                                Sensitizing dye (S-2)      2 × 10.sup.-4                                Sensitizing dye (S-3)      2 × 10.sup.-5                                Coupler (C-1)              0.10                                               Coupler (C-3)              0.30                                               Colored coupler (CC-1)     0.03                                               DIR coupler (D-2)          0.07                                               High boiling solvent (Oil-1)                                                                             0.50                                               5th layer: high speed red-sensitive silver halide emulsion                    layer                                                                         Silver bromoiodide (AgI: 6 mol %, octahedron,                                                            1.6                                                grain size as converted into cube: 1.0 μm)                                 Gelatin                    1.6                                                Sensitizing dye (S-1)      1 × 10.sup.-4                                Sensitizing dye (S-2)      1 × 10.sup.-4                                Sensitizing dye (S-3)      1 × 10.sup.-5                                Coupler (C-2)              0.10                                               Coupler (C-1)              0.20                                               Colored coupler (CC-1)     0.02                                               DIR coupler (D-2)          0.05                                               High boiling solvent (Oil-1)                                                                             0.40                                               6th layer: intermediate layer                                                 Gelatin                    0.80                                               SC-1                       0.03                                               SC-2                       0.02                                               High boiling solvent (Oil-2)                                                                             0.05                                               7th layer: low speed green-sensitive silver halide                            emulsion layer                                                                Silver bromoiodide (AgI: 7 mol %, octahedron,                                                            0.4                                                grain size as converted into cube: 0.3 μm)                                 Gelatin                    0.8                                                Sensitizing dye (S-4)      6 × 10.sup.-4                                Sensitizing dye (S-5)      1 × 10.sup.-4                                Sensitizing dye (S-6)      1 × 10.sup.-4                                Coupler (M-1)              0.05                                               Coupler (M-3)              0.25                                               Colored coupler (CM-1)     0.04                                               DIR coupler (D-1)          0.06                                               High boiling solvent (Oil-2)                                                                             0.40                                               8th layer: medium speed green-sensitive silver halide                         emulsion layer                                                                Silver bromoiodide (AgI: 8 mol %, octahedron,                                                            0.8                                                grain size as converted into cube: 0.7 μm)                                 Gelatin                    1.1                                                Sensitizing dye (S-4)      3 × 10.sup.-4                                Sensitizing dye (S-5)      5 × 10.sup.-5                                Sensitizing dye (S-6)      5 × 10.sup.-5                                Coupler (M-1)              0.05                                               Coupler (M-3)              0.20                                               Colored coupler (CM-1)     0.03                                               DIR coupler (D-1)          0.05                                               High boiling solvent (Oil-2)                                                                             0.30                                               9th layer: high speed green-sensitive silver halide                           emulsion layer                                                                Silver bromoiodide (AgI: 6 mol %, octahedron,                                                            1.2                                                grain size as converted into cube: 1.0 μm)                                 Gelatin                    1.1                                                Sensitizing dye (S-4)      2 × 10.sup.-4                                Sensitizing dye (S-5)      5 × 10.sup.-4                                Sensitizing dye (S-6)      5 × 10.sup.-4                                Coupler (M-2)              0.05                                               Coupler (M-3)              0.10                                               Colored coupler (CM-1)     0.02                                               DIR coupler (D-1)          0.02                                               High boiling solvent (Oil-2)                                                                             0.30                                               10th layer: yellow filter layer                                               Yellow colloidal silver    0.05                                               Gelatin                    1.0                                                SC-1                       0.03                                               SC-2                       0.02                                               High boiling solvent (Oil-2)                                                                             0.05                                               11th layer: low speed blue-sensitive silver halide                            emulsion layer                                                                Silver bromoiodide (AgI: 7 mol %, octahedron,                                                            0.2                                                grain size as converted into cube: 0.7 μm)                                 Gelatin                    1.3                                                Sensitizing dye (S-7)      1 × 10.sup.-3                                Coupler (Y-1)              0.80                                               DIR coupler (D-2)          0.10                                               High boiling solvent (Oil-2)                                                                             0.28                                               12th layer: medium speed blue-sensitive silver halide                         emulsion layer                                                                Silver bromoiodide (AgI: 8 mol %, octahedron,                                                            0.50                                               grain size as converted into cube: 0.7 μm)                                 Gelatin                    0.50                                               Sensitizing dye (S-7)      5 × 10.sup.-4                                Coupler (Y-1)              0.60                                               DIR coupler (D-2)          0.08                                               High boiling solvent (Oil-2)                                                                             0.25                                               13th layer: high speed blue-sensitive silver halide                           emulsion layer                                                                Silver bromoiodide (AgI: 6 mol %, octahedron,                                                            0.70                                               grain size as converted into cube: 1.0 μm)                                 Gelatin                    0.70                                               Sensitizing dye (S-7)      2 × 10.sup.-4                                Coupler (Y-1)              0.20                                               DIR coupler (D-2)          0.01                                               High boiling solvent (Oil-2)                                                                             0.07                                               14th layer: 1st protective layer                                              Silver bromoiodide         0.3                                                (AgI: 1 mol %, average grain size: 0.08 μm)                                Gelatin                    1.0                                                UV absorbent (UV-1)        0.1                                                UV absorbent (UV-2)        0.1                                                Formalin scavenger (HS-1)  0.5                                                Formalin scavenger (HS-2)  0.2                                                High boiling solvent (Oil-1)                                                                             0.1                                                High boiling solvent (Oil-3                                                                              0.1                                                15th layer: 2nd protective layer                                              Gelatin                    0.7                                                Alkali-soluble matting agent                                                                             0.12                                               (average particle size: 2 μm)                                              Polymethylmethacrylate particle                                                                          0.02                                               (average particle size: 3 μm)                                              Slipping agent (wax-1)     0.04                                               Static control agent (Su-1)                                                                              0.004                                              ______________________________________                                    

In addition to the above compounds, a coating aid (Su-2), dispersingagents (Su-2 and Su-3), gelatin hardeners (H-1 and H-2), a stabilizer(Stab-1), antifogging agents (AF-1 and AF-2) and a antiseptic agent(D1-I) were added to each layer.

Chemical structures of the compounds contained in Sample 1 are asfollows: ##STR1##

Samples 2 to 11 were prepared by varying the compositions of 7th, 8thand 9th layers of green-sensitive silver halide emulsion layers, each alow, medium, high speed layer, respectively, in Sample 1 as follows:

Sample 2 (comparison)

    ______________________________________                                        7th layer: low speed green-sensitive silver halide                            emulsion layer                                                                Silver bromoiodide (AgI: 7 mol %, octahedron,                                                            0.4                                                grain size as converted into cube: 0.3 μm)                                 Gelatin                    0.8                                                Sensitizing dye (S-4)      6 × 10.sup.-4                                Sensitizing dye (S-5)      1 × 10.sup.-4                                Sensitizing dye (S-6)      1 × 10.sup.-4                                Coupler (M-1)              0.05                                               Coupler (M-3)              0.25                                               Colored coupler (CM-1)     0.04                                               DIR coupler (D-1)          0.06                                               High boiling solvent (Oil-2)                                                                             0.40                                               8th layer: medium speed green-sensitive silver halide                         emulsion layer                                                                Silver bromoiodide (AgI: 8 mol %, octahedron,                                 grain size as converted into cube: 0.7 μm)                                                            1.0                                                Gelatin                    1.3                                                Sensitizing dye (S-4)      3 × 10.sup.-4                                Sensitizing dye (S-5)      5 × 10.sup.-5                                Sensitizing dye (S-6)      5 × 10.sup.-5                                Coupler (M-1)              0.06                                               Coupler (M-3)              0.24                                               Colored coupler (CM-1)     0.04                                               DIR coupler (D-1)          0.06                                               High boiling solvent (Oil-2)                                                                             0.36                                               9th layer: high speed green-sensitive silver halide                           emulsion layer                                                                Silver bromoiodide (AgI: 6 mol %, octahedron,                                                            1.0                                                grain size as converted into cube: 1.0 μm)                                 Gelatin                    1.0                                                Sensitizing dye (S-4)      2 × 10.sup.-4                                Sensitizing dye (S-5)      5 × 10.sup.-4                                Sensitizing dye (S-6)      5 × 10.sup.-4                                Coupler (M-2)              0.04                                               Coupler (M-3)              0.09                                               Colored coupler (CM-1)     0.02                                               DIR coupler (D-1)          0.02                                               High boiling solvent (Oil-2)                                                                             0.30                                               ______________________________________                                    

Sample 3 (comparison)

    ______________________________________                                        7th layer: low speed green-sensitive silver halide                            emulsion layer                                                                Silver bromoiodide (AgI: 7 mol %, octahedron,                                                            0.6                                                grain size as converted into cube: 0.3 μm)                                 Gelatin                    1.2                                                Sensitizing dye (S-4)      6 × 10.sup.-4                                Sensitizing dye (S-5)      1 × 10.sup.-4                                Sensitizing dye (S-6)      1 × 10.sup.-4                                Coupler (M-1)              0.08                                               Coupler (M-3)              0.40                                               Colored coupler (CM-1)     0.06                                               DIR coupler (D-1)          0.09                                               High boiling solvent (Oil-2)                                                                             0.60                                               8th layer: medium speed green-sensitive silver halide                         emulsion layer                                                                Silver bromoiodide (AgI: 8 mol %, octahedron,                                                            0.6                                                grain size as converted into cube: 0.7 μm)                                 Gelatin                    0.8                                                Sensitizing dye (S-4)      3 × 10.sup.-4                                Sensitizing dye (S-5)      5 × 10.sup.-5                                Sensitizing dye (S-6)      5 × 10.sup.-5                                Coupler (M-1)              0.04                                               Coupler (M-3)              0.15                                               Colored coupler (CM-1)     0.02                                               DIR coupler (D-1)          0.04                                               High boiling solvent (Oil-2)                                                                             0.25                                               9th layer: high speed green-sensitive silver halide                           emulsion layer                                                                Silver bromoiodide (AgI: 6 mol %, octahedron,                                                            1.2                                                grain size as converted into cube: 1.0 μm)                                 Gelatin                    1.1                                                Sensitizing dye (S-4)      2 × 10.sup.-4                                Sensitizing dye (S-5)      5 × 10.sup.-4                                Sensitizing dye (S-6)      5 × 10.sup.-4                                Coupler (M-2)              0.05                                               Coupler (M-3)              0.10                                               Colored coupler (CM-1)     0.02                                               DIR coupler (D-1)          0.02                                               High boiling solvent (Oil-2)                                                                             0.30                                               ______________________________________                                    

Sample 4 (invention)

    ______________________________________                                        7th layer: low speed green-sensitive silver halide                            emulsion layer                                                                Silver bromoiodide (AgI: 7 mol %, octahedron,                                                            0.7                                                grain size as converted into cube: 0.3 μm)                                 Gelatin                    1.4                                                Sensitizing dye (S-4)      6 × 10.sup.-4                                Sensitizing dye (S-5)      1 × 10.sup.-4                                Sensitizing dye (S-6)      1 × 10.sup.-4                                Coupler (M-1)              0.09                                               Coupler (M-3)              0.44                                               Colored coupler (CM-1)     0.07                                               DIR coupler (D-1)          0.11                                               High boiling solvent (Oil-2)                                                                             0.70                                               8th layer: medium speed green-sensitive silver halide                         emulsion layer                                                                Silver bromoiodide (AgI: 8 mol %, octahedron,                                                            0.5                                                grain size as converted into cube: 0.7 μm)                                 Gelatin                    0.7                                                Sensitizing dye (S-4)      3 × 10.sup.-4                                Sensitizing dye (S-5)      5 × 10.sup.-5                                Sensitizing dye (S-6)      5 × 10.sup.-5                                Coupler (M-1)              0.03                                               Coupler (M-3)              0.13                                               Colored coupler (CM-1)     0.02                                               DIR coupler (D-1)          0.03                                               High boiling solvent (Oil-2)                                                                             0.19                                               9th layer: high speed green-sensitive silver halide                           emulsion layer                                                                Silver bromoiodide (AgI: 6 mol %, octahedron,                                                            1.2                                                grain size as converted into cube: 1.0 μm)                                 Gelatin                    1.1                                                Sensitizing dye (S-4)      2 × 10.sup.-4                                Sensitizing dye (S-5)      5 × 10.sup.-4                                Sensitizing dye (S-6)      5 × 10.sup.-4                                Coupler (M-2)              0.05                                               Coupler (M-3)              0.10                                               Colored coupler (CM-1)     0.02                                               DIR coupler (D-1)          0.02                                               High boiling solvent (Oil-2)                                                                             0.30                                               ______________________________________                                    

Sample 5 (invention)

    ______________________________________                                        7th layer: low speed green-sensitive silver halide                            emulsion layer                                                                Silver bromoiodide (AgI: 7 mol %, octahedron,                                                            0.9                                                grain size as converted into cube: 0.3 μm)                                 Gelatin                    1.8                                                Sensitizing dye (S-4)      6 × 10.sup.-4                                Sensitizing dye (S-5)      1 × 10.sup.-4                                Sensitizing dye (S-6)      1 × 10.sup.-4                                Coupler (M-1)              0.11                                               Coupler (M-3)              0.56                                               Colored coupler (CM-1)     0.09                                               DIR coupler (D-1)          0.14                                               High boiling solvent (Oil-2)                                                                             0.90                                               8th layer: medium speed green-sensitive silver halide                         emulsion layer                                                                Silver bromoiodide (AgI: 8 mol %, octahedron,                                                            0.5                                                grain size as converted into cube: 0.7 μm)                                 Gelatin                    0.7                                                Sensitizing dye (S-4)      3 × 10.sup.-4                                Sensitizing dye (S-5)      5 × 10.sup.-5                                Sensitizing dye (S-6)      5 × 10.sup.-5                                Coupler (M-1)              0.03                                               Coupler (M-3)              0.13                                               Colored coupler (CM-1)     0.02                                               DIR coupler (D-1)          0.03                                               High boiling solvent (Oil-2)                                                                             0.19                                               9th layer: high speed green-sensitive silver halide                           emulsion layer                                                                Silver bromoiodide (AgI: 6 mol %, octahedron,                                                            1.0                                                grain size as converted into cube: 1.0 μm)                                 Gelatin                    0.9                                                Sensitizing dye (S-4)      2 × 10.sup.-4                                Sensitizing dye (S-5)      5 × 10.sup.-4                                Sensitizing dye (S-6)      5 × 10.sup.-4                                Coupler (M-2)              0.04                                               Coupler (M-3)              0.08                                               Colored coupler (CM-1)     0.02                                               DIR coupler (D-1)          0.02                                               High boiling solvent (Oil-2)                                                                             0.25                                               ______________________________________                                    

Sample 6 (invention)

    ______________________________________                                        7th layer: low speed green-sensitive silver halide                            emulsion layer                                                                Silver bromoiodide (AgI: 7 mol %, octahedron,                                                            0.9                                                grain size as converted into cube: 0.3 μm)                                 Gelatin                    1.8                                                Sensitizing dye (S-4)      6 × 10.sup.-4                                Sensitizing dye (S-5)      1 × 10.sup.-4                                Sensitizing dye (S-6)      1 × 10.sup.-4                                Coupler (M-1)              0.11                                               Coupler (M-3)              0.56                                               Colored coupler (CM-1)     0.09                                               DIR coupler (D-1)          0.14                                               High boiling solvent (Oil-2)                                                                             0.90                                               8th layer: medium speed green-sensitive silver halide                         emulsion layer                                                                Silver bromoiodide (AgI: 8 mol %, octahedron,                                                            0.4                                                grain size as converted into cube: 0.7 μm)                                 Gelatin                    0.6                                                Sensitizing dye (S-4)      3 × 10.sup.-4                                Sensitizing dye (S-5)      5 × 10.sup.-5                                Sensitizing dye (S-6)      5 × 10.sup.-5                                Coupler (M-1)              0.03                                               Coupler (M-3)              0.10                                               Colored coupler (CM-1)     0.02                                               DIR coupler (D-1)          0.03                                               High boiling solvent (Oil-2)                                                                             0.17                                               9th layer: high speed green-sensitive silver halide                           emulsion layer                                                                Silver bromoiodide (AgI: 6 mol %, octahedron,                                                            1.0                                                grain size as converted into cube: 1.0 μm)                                 Gelatin                    0.9                                                Sensitizing dye (S-4)      2 × 10.sup.-4                                Sensitizing dye (S-5)      5 × 10.sup.-4                                Sensitizing dye (S-6)      5 × 10.sup.-4                                Coupler (M-2)              0.04                                               Coupler (M-3)              0.08                                               Colored coupler (CM-1)     0.02                                               DIR coupler (D-1)          0.02                                               High boiling solvent (Oil-2)                                                                             0.25                                               ______________________________________                                    

Sample 7 (invention)

    ______________________________________                                        7th layer: low speed green-sensitive silver halide                            emulsion layer                                                                Silver bromoiodide (AgI: 7 mol %, octahedron,                                                            0.9                                                grain size as converted into cube: 0.3 μm)                                 Gelatin                    1.8                                                Sensitizing dye (S-4)      6 × 10.sup.-4                                Sensitizing dye (S-5)      1 × 10.sup.-4                                Sensitizing dye (S-6)      1 × 10.sup.-4                                Coupler (M-1)              0.11                                               Coupler (M-3)              0.56                                               Colored coupler (CM-1)     0.09                                               DIR coupler (D-1)          0.14                                               High boiling solvent (Oil-2)                                                                             0.90                                               8th layer: medium speed green-sensitive silver halide                         emulsion layer                                                                Silver bromoiodide (AgI: 8 mol %, octahedron,                                                            0.5                                                grain size as converted into cube: 0.7 μm)                                 Gelatin                    0.7                                                Sensitizing dye (S-4)      3 × 10.sup.-4                                Sensitizing dye (S-5)      5 × 10.sup.-5                                Sensitizing dye (S-6)      5 × 10.sup.-5                                Coupler (M-1)              0.03                                               Coupler (M-3)              0.13                                               Colored coupler (CM-1)     0.02                                               DIR coupler (D-1)          0.03                                               High boiling solvent (Oil-2)                                                                             0.19                                               9th layer: high speed green-sensitive silver halide                           emulsion layer                                                                Silver bromoiodide (AgI: 6 mol %, octahedron,                                                            1.2                                                grain size as converted into cube: 1.0 μm)                                 Gelatin                    1.1                                                Sensitizing dye (S-4)      2 × 10.sup.-4                                Sensitizing dye (S-5)      5 × 10.sup.-4                                Sensitizing dye (S-6)      5 × 10.sup.-4                                Coupler (M-2)              0.05                                               Coupler (M-3)              0.10                                               Colored coupler (CM-1)     0.02                                               DIR coupler (D-1)          0.02                                               High boiling solvent (Oil-2)                                                                             0.30                                               ______________________________________                                    

Sample 8 (invention)

    ______________________________________                                        7th layer: low speed green-sensitive silver halide                            emulsion layer                                                                Silver bromoiodide (AgI: 7 mol %, octahedron,                                                            1.0                                                grain size as converted into cube: 0.3 μm)                                 Gelatin                    2.0                                                Sensitizing dye (S-4)      6 × 10.sup.-4                                Sensitizing dye (S-5)      1 × 10.sup.-4                                Sensitizing dye (S-6)      1 × 10.sup.-4                                Coupler (M-1)              0.13                                               Coupler (M-3)              0.63                                               Colored coupler (CM-1)     0.10                                               DIR coupler (D-1)          0.15                                               High boiling solvent (Oil-2)                                                                             1.0                                                8th layer: medium speed green-sensitive silver halide                         emulsion layer                                                                Silver bromoiodide (AgI: 8 mol %, octahedron,                                                            0.8                                                grain size as converted into cube: 0.7 μm)                                 Gelatin                    1.1                                                Sensitizing dye (S-4)      3 × 10.sup.-4                                Sensitizing dye (S-5)      5 × 10.sup.-5                                Sensitizing dye (S-6)      5 × 10.sup.-5                                Coupler (M-1)              0.05                                               Coupler (M-3)              0.20                                               Colored coupler (CM-1)     0.03                                               DIR coupler (D-1)          0.05                                               High boiling solvent (Oil-2)                                                                             0.30                                               9th layer: high speed green-sensitive silver halide                           emulsion layer                                                                Silver bromoiodide (AgI: 6 mol %, octahedron,                                                            1.2                                                grain size as converted into cube: 1.0 m)                                     Gelatin                    1.1                                                Sensitizing dye (S-4)      2 × 10.sup.-4                                Sensitizing dye (S-5)      5 × 10.sup.-4                                Sensitizing dye (S-6)      5 × 10.sup.-4                                Coupler (M-2)              0.05                                               Coupler (M-3)              0.10                                               Colored coupler (CM-1)     0.02                                               DIR coupler (D-1)          0.02                                               High boiling solvent (Oil-2)                                                                             0.30                                               ______________________________________                                    

Sample 9 (invention)

    ______________________________________                                        7th layer: low speed green-sensitive silver halide                            emulsion layer                                                                Silver bromoiodide (AgI: 7 mol %, octahedron,                                                            1.0                                                grain size as converted into cube: 0.3 μm)                                 Gelatin                    2.0                                                Sensitizing dye (S-4)      6 × 10.sup.-4                                Sensitizing dye (S-5)      1 × 10.sup.-4                                Sensitizing dye (S-6)      1 × 10.sup.-4                                Coupler (M-1)              0.13                                               Coupler (M-3)              0.63                                               Colored coupler (CM-1)     0.10                                               DIR coupler (D-1)          0.15                                               High boiling solvent (Oil-2)                                                                             1.0                                                8th layer: medium speed green-sensitive silver halide                         emulsion layer                                                                Silver bromoiodide (AgI: 8 mol %, octahedron,                                                            0.6                                                grain size as converted into cube: 0.7 μm)                                 Gelatin                    0.8                                                Sensitizing dye (S-4)      3 × 10.sup.-4                                Sensitizing dye (S-5)      5 × 10.sup.-5                                Sensitizing dye (S-6)      5 × 10.sup.-5                                Coupler (M-1)              0.04                                               Coupler (M-3)              0.15                                               Colored coupler (CM-1)     0.02                                               DIR coupler (D-1)          0.04                                               High boiling solvent (Oil-2)                                                                             0.23                                               9th layer: high speed green-sensitive silver halide                           emulsion layer                                                                Silver bromoiodide (AgI: 6 mol %, octahedron,                                                            1.2                                                grain size as converted into cube: 1.0 μm)                                 Gelatin                    1.1                                                Sensitizing dye (S-4)      2 × 10.sup.-4                                Sensitizing dye (S-5)      5 × 10.sup.-4                                Sensitizing dye (S-6)      5 × 10.sup.-4                                Coupler (M-2)              0.05                                               Coupler (M-3)              0.10                                               Colored coupler (CM-1)     0.02                                               DIR coupler (D-1)          0.02                                               High boiling solvent (Oil-2)                                                                             0.30                                               ______________________________________                                    

Sample 10 (invention)

    ______________________________________                                        7th layer: low speed green-sensitive silver halide                            emulsion layer                                                                Silver bromoiodide (AgI: 7 mol %, octahedron,                                                            1.0                                                grain size as converted into cube: 0.3 μm)                                 Gelatin                    2.4                                                Sensitizing dye (S-4)      6 × 10.sup.-4                                Sensitizing dye (S-5)      1 × 10.sup.-4                                Sensitizing dye (S-6)      1 × 10.sup.-4                                Coupler (M-1)              0.19                                               Coupler (M-3)              0.94                                               Colored coupler (CM-1)     0.15                                               DIR coupler (D-1)          0.23                                               High boiling solvent (Oil-2)                                                                             1.5                                                8th layer: medium speed green-sensitive silver halide                         emulsion layer                                                                Silver bromoiodide (AgI: 8 mol %, octahedron,                                                            0.6                                                grain size as converted into cube: 0.7 μm)                                 Gelatin                    1.1                                                Sensitizing dye (S-4)      3 × 10.sup.-4                                Sensitizing dye (S-5)      5 × 10.sup.-5                                Sensitizing dye (S-6)      5 × 10.sup.-5                                Coupler (M-1)              0.05                                               Coupler (M-3)              0.20                                               Colored coupler (CM-1)     0.03                                               DIR coupler (D-1)          0.05                                               High boiling solvent (Oil-2)                                                                             0.30                                               9th layer: high speed green-sensitive silver halide                           emulsion layer                                                                Silver bromoiodide (AgI: 6 mol %, octahedron,                                                            1.2                                                grain size as converted into cube: 1.0 μm)                                 Gelatin                    1.1                                                Sensitizing dye (S-4)      2 × 10.sup.-4                                Sensitizing dye (S-5)      5 × 10.sup.-4                                Sensitizing dye (S-6)      5 × 10.sup.-4                                Coupler (M-2)              0.04                                               Coupler (M-3)              0.08                                               Colored coupler (CM-1)     0.02                                               DIR coupler (D-1)          0.02                                               High boiling solvent (Oil-2)                                                                             0.28                                               ______________________________________                                    

Sample 11 (invention)

    ______________________________________                                        7th layer: low speed green-sensitive silver halide                            emulsion layer                                                                Silver bromoiodide (AgI: 7 mol %, octahedron,                                 grain size as converted into cube: 0.3 μm)                                                            1.0                                                Gelatin                    2.4                                                Sensitizing dye (S-4)      6 × 10.sup.-4                                Sensitizing dye (S-5)      1 × 10.sup.-4                                Sensitizing dye (S-6)      1 × 10.sup.-4                                Coupler (M-1)              0.19                                               Coupler (M-3)              0.94                                               Colored coupler (CM-1)     0.15                                               DIR coupler (D-1)          0.23                                               High boiling solvent (Oil-2)                                                                             1.5                                                8th layer: medium speed green-sensitive silver halide                         emulsion layer                                                                Silver bromoiodide (AgI: 8 mol %, octahedron,                                                            0.6                                                grain size as converted into cube: 0.7 μm)                                 Gelatin                    1.1                                                Sensitizing dye (S-4)      3 × 10.sup.-4                                Sensitizing dye (S-5)      5 × 10.sup.-5                                Sensitizing dye (S-6)      5 × 10.sup.-5                                Coupler (M-1)              0.05                                               Coupler (M-3)              0.20                                               Colored coupler (CM-1)     0.03                                               DIR coupler (D-1)          0.05                                               High boiling solvent (Oil-2)                                                                             0.30                                               9th layer: high speed green-sensitive silver halide                           emulsion layer                                                                Silver bromoiodide (AgI: 6 mol %, octahedron,                                                            1.2                                                grain size as converted into cube: 1.0 μm)                                 Gelatin                    1.1                                                Sensitizing dye (S-4)      2 × 10.sup.-4                                Sensitizing dye (S-5)      5 × 10.sup.-4                                Sensitizing dye (S-6)      5 × 10.sup.-4                                Coupler (M-2)              0.06                                               Coupler (M-3)              0.12                                               Colored coupler (CM-1)     0.03                                               DIR coupler (D-1)          0.03                                               High boiling solvent (Oil-2)                                                                             0.35                                               ______________________________________                                    

Samples 1 to 11 prepared as above were subjected to imagewise exposureto white light, and color-developed by the following process [I].

    ______________________________________                                        Color developing                                                                              3 min 15 sec                                                  Bleaching       6 min 30 sec                                                  Washing         3 min 15 sec                                                  Fixing          6 min 30 sec                                                  Washing         3 min 15 sec                                                  Stabilizing     1 min 30 sec                                                  Drying                                                                        ______________________________________                                    

Composition of each processing solution was as follows:

    ______________________________________                                        (Color developer)                                                             4-amino-3-methyl-N-ethyl-N-(β-hydroxyethyl)-                                                         4.75   g                                          aniline sulfate                                                               Anhydrous sodium sulfite    4.25   g                                          Hydroxylamine 1/2 sulfate   2.0    g                                          Anhydrous potassium carbonate                                                                             37.5   g                                          Sodium bromide              1.3    g                                          Trisodium nitrilotriacetate monohydrate                                                                   2.5    g                                          Potassium hydroxide         1.0    g                                          Water was added to make 1 l.                                                  (Bleacher)                                                                    Ammonium ferric ethylenediamine tetracetate                                                               100.0  g                                          Diammonium ethylenediamine tetracetate                                                                    10.0   g                                          Ammonium bromide            150.0  g                                          Glacial acetic acid         10.0   ml                                         Water was added to make 1 l, and pH was adjusted to                           6.0 with aqueous ammonia.                                                     (Fixer)                                                                       Ammonium thiosulfate        175.0  g                                          Anhydrous sodium sulfite    8.5    g                                          Sodium metasulfite          2.3    g                                          Water was added to make 1 l, and pH was adjusted to                           6.0 with acetic acid.                                                         (Stabilizer)                                                                  Formalin (37% solution)     1.5    ml                                         Koniducks (made by Konica Corp.)                                                                          7.5    ml                                         Water was added to make 1 l.                                                  ______________________________________                                    

On the processed samples, the magenta dye densities yielded by variedexposures were measured to obtain a photographic sensitometrycharacteristic curve.

The exposure necessary to give a density of the minimum magenta density(Dmin)+0.15 is defined as S1 by photographic sensitometry. Further, S₂to S₅ were defined as follows, and these characteristic points weredetermined on each sample:

    S.sub.2 =Dmin+0.80

    S.sub.3 =Dmin+1.5

    S.sub.4 =S.sub.1 +2.0log E

    S.sub.5 =S.sub.1 +2.8log E

At the density points of S₂ and S₃, the densities were measured with amicrodensitometer having an aperture area of 250 μm², thereby the RMSgranularities were determined. The results are shown in Table 1 as S₂RMS and S₃ RMS, respectively.

Next, the color density difference (D) between the exposure points of S₄and S₅ was determined on each sample. The results are also shown inTable 1.

The relative RMS granularities are expressed by values relative to S₂RMS and S₃ RMS of Sample 1 both of which are set at 100.

                  TABLE 1                                                         ______________________________________                                               Sample                                                                              Granularity Density in high                                             No.   S.sub.2 RMS                                                                           S.sub.3 RMS                                                                           exposure portion (Δ D)                     ______________________________________                                        Comparison                                                                             1       100     100   0.15                                                    2       95      120   0.10                                                    3       120     95    0.15                                           Invention                                                                              4       95      85    0.20                                                    5       90      70    0.30                                                    6       95      75    0.30                                                    7       90      70    0.30                                                    8       85      65    0.40                                                    9       90      70    0.40                                                    10      80      65    0.55                                                    11      90      65    0.55                                           ______________________________________                                    

As apparent from the results in Table 1, the samples of the inventionexhibit smaller RMS granularities than the comparative samples at thepoints of S₂ and S₃, this indicates that the graininess is improved inthe samples of the invention. Further, the density differences in highexposure portions are larger in the samples of the invention; therefore,the difference in image density can be expressed more distinctively in ahigh exposure portion, and thus high details in a highlight portion canbe obtained.

EXAMPLE 2

Sample 12 of a multilayered color photographic light-sensitive materialwas prepared by coating the same layers as in Sample 1 of Example 1 inlike manner on a triacetyl cellulose film support, except that thered-sensitive layers of the 3rd, 4th and 5th layers of Sample 1, each alow, medium and highspeed layer, respectively, were changed as follows:

Sample 12 (comparison)

    ______________________________________                                        3rd layer: low speed red-sensitive silver halide                              emulsion layer                                                                Silver bromoiodide (AgI: 7 mol %, octahedron,                                                            1.0                                                grain size as converted into cube: 0.3 μm)                                 Gelatin                    1.2                                                Sensitizing dye (S-1)      8 × 10.sup.-4                                Sensitizing dye (S-2)      5 × 10.sup.-4                                Sensitizing dye (S-3)      3 × 10.sup.-5                                Coupler (C-1)              0.17                                               Coupler (C-3)              0.42                                               Colored coupler (CC-1)     0.07                                               DIR coupler (D-2)          0.08                                               High boiling solvent (Oil-1)                                                                             0.75                                               4th layer: medium speed red-sensitive silver halide                           emulsion layer                                                                Silver bromoiodide (AgI: 8 mol %, octahedron,                                                            1.0                                                grain size as converted into cube: 0.7 μm)                                 Gelatin                    1.3                                                Sensitizing dye (S-1)      3 × 10.sup.-4                                Sensitizing dye (S-2)      2 × 10.sup.-4                                Sensitizing dye (S-3)      2 × 10.sup.-5                                Coupler (C-1)              0.10                                               Coupler (C-3)              0.30                                               Colored coupler (CC-1)     0.03                                               DIR coupler (D-2)          0.07                                               High boiling solvent (Oil-1)                                                                             0.50                                               5th layer: high speed red-sensitive silver halide                             emulsion layer                                                                Silver bromoiodide (AgI: 6 mol %, octahedron,                                                            1.6                                                grain size as converted into cube: 1.0 μm)                                 Gelatin                    1.6                                                Sensitizing dye (S-1)      1 × 10.sup.-4                                Sensitizing dye (S-2)      1 × 10.sup.-4                                Sensitizing dye (S-3)      1 × 10.sup.-5                                Coupler (C-2)              0.10                                               Coupler (C-1)              0.20                                               Colored coupler (CC-1)     0.02                                               DIR coupler (D-2)          0.05                                               High boiling solvent (Oil-1)                                                                             0.40                                               ______________________________________                                    

Samples 13 to 21 were prepared by varying the red-sensitive silverhalide emulsion layers of the 3rd, 4th and 5th layers in Sample 12.

Sample 13 (comparison)

    ______________________________________                                        3rd layer: low speed red-sensitive silver halide emulsion layer               Silver bromoiodide (AgI: 7 mol %, octahedron,                                                          1.2                                                  grain size as converted into cube: 0.3 μm)                                 Gelatin                  1.2                                                  Sensitizing dye (S-1)    8 × 10.sup.-4                                  Sensitizing dye (S-2)    5 × 10.sup.-4                                  Sensitizing dye (S-3)    3 × 10.sup.-5                                  Coupler (C-1)            0.17                                                 Coupler (C-3)            0.42                                                 Colored coupler (CC-1)   0.07                                                 DIR coupler (D-2)        0.08                                                 High boiling solvent (Oil-1)                                                                           0.75                                                 4th layer: medium speed red-sensitive silver halide emulsion layer            Silver bromoiodide (AgI: 8 mol %, octahedron,                                                          1.2                                                  grain size as converted into cube: 0.7 μm)                                 Gelatin                  1.3                                                  Sensitizing dye (S-1)    3 × 10.sup.-4                                  Sensitizing dye (S-2)    2 × 10.sup.-4                                  Sensitizing dye (S-3)    2 × 10.sup.-5                                  Coupler (C-1)            0.10                                                 Coupler (C-3)            0.30                                                 Colored coupler (CC-1)   0.03                                                 DIR coupler (D-2)        0.07                                                 High boiling solvent (Oil-1)                                                                           0.50                                                 5th layer: high speed red-sensitive silver halide emulsion layer              Silver bromoiodide (AgI: 6 mol %, octahedron,                                                          1.8                                                  grain size as converted into cube: 1.0 μm)                                 Gelatin                  1.6                                                  Sensitizing dye (S-1)    1 ×  10.sup.-4                                 Sensitizing dye (S-2)    1 × 10.sup.-4                                  Sensitizing dye (S-3)    1 × 10.sup.-5                                  Coupler (C-2)            0.10                                                 Coupler (C-1)            0.20                                                 Colored coupler (CC-1)   0.02                                                 DIR coupler (D-2)        0.05                                                 High boiling solvent (Oil-1)                                                                           0.40                                                 ______________________________________                                    

Sample 14 (comparison)

    ______________________________________                                        3rd layer: low speed red-sensitive silver halide emulsion layer               Silver bromoiodide (AgI: 7 mol %, octahedron,                                                          1.2                                                  grain size as converted into cube: 0.3 μm)                                 Gelatin                  1.2                                                  Sensitizing dye (S-1)    8 × 10.sup.-4                                  Sensitizing dye (S-2)    5 × 10.sup.-4                                  Sensitizing dye (S-3)    3 × 10.sup.-5                                  Coupler (C-1)            0.70                                                 Coupler (C-3)            0.42                                                 Colored coupler (CC-1)   0.07                                                 DIR coupler (D-2)        0.08                                                 High boiling solvent (Oil-1)                                                                           0.75                                                 4th layer: medium speed red-sensitive silver halide emulsion layer            Silver bromoiodide (AgI: 8 mol %, octahedron,                                                          1.5                                                  grain size as converted into cube: 0.7 μm)                                 Gelatin                  2.0                                                  Sensitizing dye (S-1)    3 × 10.sup.-4                                  Sensitizing dye (S-2)    2 × 10.sup.-4                                  Sensitizing dye (S-3)    2 × 10.sup.-5                                  Coupler (C-1)            0.15                                                 Coupler (C-3)            0.45                                                 Colored coupler (CC-1)   0.05                                                 DIR coupler (D-2)        0.10                                                 High boiling solvent (Oil-1)                                                                           0.75                                                 5th layer: high speed red-sensitive silver halide emulsion layer              Silver bromoiodide (AgI: 6 mol %, octahedron,                                                          1.8                                                  grain size as converted into cube: 1.0 μm)                                 Gelatin                  1.6                                                  Sensitizing dye (S-1)    1 ×  10.sup.-4                                 Sensitizing de (S-2)     1 × 10.sup.-4                                  Sensitizing dye (S-3)    1 × 10.sup.-5                                  Coupler (C-2)            0.10                                                 Coupler (C-1)            0.20                                                 Colored coupler (CC-1)   0.02                                                 DIR coupler (D-2)        0.05                                                 High boiling solvent (Oil-1)                                                                           0.40                                                 ______________________________________                                    

Sample 15 (invention)

    ______________________________________                                        3rd layer: low speed red-sensitive silver halide emulsion layer               Silver bromoiodide (AgI: 7 mol %, octahedron,                                                          0.9                                                  grain size as converted into cube: 0.3 μm)                                 Gelatin                  1.2                                                  Sensitizing dye (S-1)    8 × 10.sup.-4                                  Sensitizing dye (S-2)    5 × 10.sup.-4                                  Sensitizing dye (S-3)    3 × 10.sup.-5                                  Coupler (C-1)            0.17                                                 Coupler (C-3)            0.42                                                 Colored coupler (CC-1)   0.07                                                 DIR coupler (D-2)        0.08                                                 High boiling solvent (Oil-1)                                                                           0.75                                                 4th layer: medium speed red-sensitive silver halide emulsion layer            Silver bromoiodide (AgI: 8 mol %, octahedron,                                                          0.8                                                  grain size as converted into cube: 0.7 μm)                                 Gelatin                  1.3                                                  Sensitizing dye (S-1)    3 × 10.sup.-4                                  Sensitizing dye (S-2)    2 × 10.sup.-4                                  Sensitizing dye (S-3)    2 × 10.sup.-5                                  Coupler (C-1)            0.10                                                 Coupler (C-3)            0.30                                                 Colored coupler (CC-1)   0.03                                                 DIR coupler (D-2)        0.07                                                 High boiling solvent (Oil-1)                                                                           0.50                                                 5th layer: high speed red-sensitive silver halide emulsion layer              Silver bromoiodide (AgI: 6 mol %, octahedron,                                                          1.8                                                  grain size as converted into cube: 1.0 μm)                                 Gelatin                  1.6                                                  Sensitizing dye (S-1)    1 ×  10.sup.-4                                 Sensitizing dye (S-2)    1 × 10.sup.-4                                  Sensitizing dye (S-3)    1 × 10.sup.-5                                  Coupler (C-2)            0.10                                                 Coupler (C-1)            0.20                                                 Colored coupler (CC-1)   0.02                                                 DIR coupler (D-2)        0.05                                                 High boiling solvent (Oil-1)                                                                           0.40                                                 ______________________________________                                    

Sample 16 (invention)

    ______________________________________                                        3rd layer: low speed red-sensitive silver halide emulsion layer               Silver bromoiodide (AgI: 7 mol %, octahedron,                                                          1.0                                                  grain size as converted into cube: 0.3 μm)                                 Gelatin                  1.2                                                  Sensitizing dye (S-1)    8 × 10.sup.-4                                  Sensitizing dye (S-2)    5 × 10.sup.-4                                  Sensitizing dye (S-3)    3 × 10.sup.-5                                  Coupler (C-1)            0.17                                                 Coupler (C-3)            0.42                                                 Colored coupler (CC-1)   0.07                                                 DIR coupler (D-2)        0.08                                                 High boiling solvent (Oil-1)                                                                           0.75                                                 4th layer: medium speed red-sensitive silver halide emulsion layer            Silver bromoiodide (AgI: 8 mol %, octahedron,                                                          0.6                                                  grain size as converted into cube: 0.7 μm)                                 Gelatin                  1.3                                                  Sensitizing dye (S-1)    3 × 10.sup.-4                                  Sensitizing dye (S-2)    2 × 10.sup.-4                                  Sensitizing dye (S-3)    2 × 10.sup.-5                                  Coupler (C-1)            0.12                                                 Coupler (C-3)            0.36                                                 Colored coupler (CC-1)   0.04                                                 DIR coupler (D-2)        0.08                                                 High boiling solvent (Oil-1)                                                                           0.60                                                 5th layer: high speed red-sensitive silver halide emulsion layer              Silver bromoiodide (AgI: 6 mol %, octahedron,                                                          1.8                                                  grain size as converted into cube: 1.0 μm)                                 Gelatin                  1.6                                                  Sensitizing dye (S-1)    1 ×  10.sup.-4                                 Sensitizing dye (S-2)    1 × 10.sup.-4                                  Sensitizing dye (S-3)    1 × 10.sup.-5                                  Coupler (C-2)            0.10                                                 Coupler (C-1)            0.20                                                 Colored coupler (CC-1)   0.02                                                 DIR coupler (D-2)        0.05                                                 High boiling solvent (Oil-1)                                                                           0.40                                                 ______________________________________                                    

Sample 17 (invention)

    ______________________________________                                        3rd layer: low speed red-sensitive silver halide emulsion layer               Silver bromoiodide (AgI: 7 mol %, octahedron,                                                          1.0                                                  grain size as converted into cube: 0.3 μm)                                 Gelatin                  1.2                                                  Sensitizing dye (S-1)    8 × 10.sup.-4                                  Sensitizing dye (S-2)    5 × 10.sup.-4                                  Sensitizing dye (S-3)    3 × 10.sup.-5                                  Coupler (C-1)            0.17                                                 Coupler (C-3)            0.42                                                 Colored coupler (CC-1)   0.07                                                 DIR coupler (D-2)        0.08                                                 High boiling solvent (Oil-1)                                                                           0.75                                                 4th layer: medium speed red-sensitive silver halide emulsion layer            Silver bromoiodide (AgI: 8 mol %, octahedron,                                                          0.6                                                  grain size as converted into cube: 0.7 μm)                                 Gelatin                  1.3                                                  Sensitizing dye (S-1)    3 × 10.sup.-4                                  Sensitizing dye (S-2)    2 × 10.sup.-4                                  Sensitizing dye (S-3)    2 × 10.sup.-5                                  Coupler (C-1)            0.12                                                 Coupler (C-3)            0.36                                                 Colored coupler (CC-1)   0.04                                                 DIR coupler (D-2)        0.08                                                 High boiling solvent (Oil-1)                                                                           0.60                                                 5th layer: high speed red-sensitive silver halide emulsion layer              Silver bromoiodide (AgI: 6 mol %, octahedron,                                                          2.2                                                  grain size as converted into cube: 1.0 μm)                                 Gelatin                  2.2                                                  Sensitizing dye (S-1)    1 ×  10.sup.-4                                 Sensitizing dye (S-2)    1 × 10.sup.-4                                  Sensitizing dye (S-3)    1 × 10.sup.-5                                  Coupler (C-2)            0.12                                                 Coupler (C-1)            0.24                                                 Colored coupler (CC-1)   0.03                                                 DIR coupler (D-2)        0.06                                                 High boiling solvent (Oil-1)                                                                           0.49                                                 ______________________________________                                    

Sample 18 (invention)

    ______________________________________                                        3rd layer: low speed red-sensitive silver halide emulsion layer               Silver bromoiodide (AgI: 7 mol %, octahedron,                                                          1.0                                                  grain size as converted into cube: 0.3 μm)                                 Gelatin                  1.2                                                  Sensitizing dye (S-1)    8 × 10.sup.-4                                  Sensitizing dye (S-2)    5 × 10.sup.-4                                  Sensitizing dye (S-3)    3 × 10.sup.-5                                  Coupler (C-1)            0.17                                                 Coupler (C-3)            0.42                                                 Colored coupler (CC-1)   0.07                                                 DIR coupler (D-2)        0.08                                                 High boiling solvent (Oil-1)                                                                           0.75                                                 4th layer: medium speed red-sensitive silver halide emulsion layer            Silver bromoiodide (AgI: 8 mol %, octahedron,                                                          0.6                                                  grain size as converted into cube: 0.7 μm)                                 Gelatin                  1.3                                                  Sensitizing dye (S-1)    3 × 10.sup.-4                                  Sensitizing dye (S-2)    2 × 10.sup.-4                                  Sensitizing dye (S-3)    2 × 10.sup.-5                                  Coupler (C-1)            0.12                                                 Coupler (C-3)            0.36                                                 Colored coupler (CC-1)   0.04                                                 DIR coupler (D-2)        0.08                                                 High boiling solvent (Oil-1)                                                                           0.60                                                 5th layer: high speed red-sensitive silver halide emulsion layer              Silver bromoiodide (AgI: 6 mol %, octahedron,                                                          2.5                                                  grain size as converted into cube: 1.0 μm)                                 Gelatin                  2.5                                                  Sensitizing dye (S-1)    1 ×  10.sup.-4                                 Sensitizing dye (S-2)    1 × 10.sup.-4                                  Sensitizing dye (S-3)    1 × 10.sup.-5                                  Coupler (C-2)            0.14                                                 Coupler (C-1)            0.28                                                 Colored coupler (CC-1)   0.03                                                 DIR coupler (D-2)        0.06                                                 High boiling solvent (Oil-1)                                                                           0.55                                                 ______________________________________                                    

Sample 19 (invention)

    ______________________________________                                        3rd layer: low speed red-sensitive silver halide emulsion layer               Silver bromoiodide (AgI: 7 mol %, octahedron,                                                          1.0                                                  grain size as converted into cube: 0.3 μm)                                 Gelatin                  1.2                                                  Sensitizing dye (S-1)    8 × 10.sup.-4                                  Sensitizing dye (S-2)    5 × 10.sup.-4                                  Sensitizing dye (S-3)    3 × 10.sup.-5                                  Coupler (C-1)            0.17                                                 Coupler (C-3)            0.42                                                 Colored coupler (CC-1)   0.07                                                 DIR coupler (D-2)        0.08                                                 High boiling solvent (Oil-1)                                                                           0.75                                                 4th layer: medium speed red-sensitive silver halide emulsion layer            Silver bromoiodide (AgI: 8 mol %, octahedron,                                                          0.6                                                  grain size as converted into cube: 0.7 μm)                                 Gelatin                  1.3                                                  Sensitizing dye (S-1)    3 × 10.sup.-4                                  Sensitizing dye (S-2)    2 × 10.sup.-4                                  Sensitizing dye (S-3)    2 × 10.sup.-5                                  Coupler (C-1)            0.12                                                 Coupler (C-3)            0.36                                                 Colored coupler (CC-1)   0.04                                                 DIR coupler (D-2)        0.08                                                 High boiling solvent (Oil-1)                                                                           0.60                                                 5th layer: high speed red-sensitive silver halide emulsion layer              Silver bromoiodide (AgI: 6 mol %, octahedron,                                                          3.0                                                  grain size as converted into cube: 1.0 μm)                                 Gelatin                  3.0                                                  Sensitizing dye (S-1)    1 ×  10.sup.-4                                 Sensitizing de (S-2)     1 × 10.sup.-4                                  Sensitizing dye (S-3)    1 × 10.sup.-5                                  Coupler (C-2)            0.20                                                 Coupler (C-1)            0.40                                                 Colored coupler (CC-1)   0.04                                                 DIR coupler (D-2)        0.10                                                 High boiling solvent (Oil-1)                                                                           0.80                                                 ______________________________________                                    

Sample 20 (invention)

    ______________________________________                                        3rd layer: low speed red-sensitive silver halide emulsion layer               Silver bromoiodide (AgI: 7 mol %, octahedron,                                                          1.0                                                  grain size as converted into cube: 0.3 μm)                                 Gelatin                  1.2                                                  Sensitizing dye (S-1)    8 × 10.sup.-4                                  Sensitizing dye (S-2)    5 × 10.sup.-4                                  Sensitizing dye (S-3)    3 × 10.sup.-5                                  Coupler (C-1)            0.70                                                 Coupler (C-3)            0.42                                                 Colored coupler (CC-1)   0.07                                                 DIR coupler (D-2)        0.08                                                 High boiling solvent (Oil-1)                                                                           0.75                                                 4th layer: medium speed red-sensitive silver halide emulsion layer            Silver bromoiodide (AgI: 8 mol %, octahedron,                                                          0.6                                                  grain size as converted into cube: 0.7 μm)                                 Gelatin                  1.3                                                  Sensitizing dye (S-1)    3 × 10.sup.-4                                  Sensitizing dye (S-2)    2 × 10.sup.-4                                  Sensitizing dye (S-3)    2 × 10.sup.-5                                  Coupler (C-1)            0.12                                                 Coupler (C-3)            0.36                                                 Colored coupler (CC-1)   0.04                                                 DIR coupler (D-2)        0.08                                                 High boiling solvent (Oil-1)                                                                           0.60                                                 5th layer: high speed red-sensitive silver halide emulsion layer              Silver bromoiodide (AgI: 6 mol %, octahedron,                                                          4.0                                                  grain size as converted into cube: 1.0 μm)                                 Gelatin                  3.5                                                  Sensitizing dye (S-1)    1 ×  10.sup.-4                                 Sensitizing dye (S-2)    1 × 10.sup.-4                                  Sensitizing dye (S-3)    1 × 10.sup.-5                                  Coupler (C-2)            0.20                                                 Coupler (C-1)            0.40                                                 Colored coupler (CC-1)   0.04                                                 DIR coupler (D-2)        0.10                                                 High boiling solvent (Oil-1)                                                                           0.80                                                 ______________________________________                                    

Sample 21 (invention)

    ______________________________________                                        3rd layer: low speed red-sensitive silver halide emulsion layer               Silver bromoiodide (AgI: 7 mol %, octahedron,                                                          1.0                                                  grain size as converted into cube: 0.3 μm)                                 Gelatin                  1.2                                                  Sensitizing dye (S-1)    8 × 10.sup.-4                                  Sensitizing dye (S-2)    5 × 10.sup.-4                                  Sensitizing dye (S-3)    3 × 10.sup.-5                                  Coupler (C-1)            0.17                                                 Coupler (C-3)            0.42                                                 Colored coupler (CC-1)   0.07                                                 DIR coupler (D-2)        0.08                                                 High boiling solvent (Oil-1)                                                                           0.75                                                 4th layer: medium speed red-sensitive silver halide emulsion layer            Silver bromoiodide (AgI: 8 mol %, octahedron,                                                          1.0                                                  grain size as converted into cube: 0.7 μm)                                 Gelatin                  1.3                                                  Sensitizing dye (S-1)    3 × 10.sup.-4                                  Sensitizing dye (S-2)    2 × 10.sup.-4                                  Sensitizing dye (S-3)    2 × 10.sup.-5                                  Coupler (C-1)            0.12                                                 Coupler (C-3)            0.36                                                 Colored coupler (CC-1)   0.04                                                 DIR coupler (D-2)        0.08                                                 High boiling solvent (Oil-1)                                                                           0.60                                                 5th layer: high speed red-sensitive silver halide emulsion layer              Silver bromoiodide (AgI: 6 mol %, octahedron,                                                          4.5                                                  grain size as converted into cube: 1.0 μm                                  Gelatin                  4.5                                                  Sensitizing dye (S-1)    1 ×  10.sup.-4                                 Sensitizing dye (S-2)    1 × 10.sup.-4                                  Sensitizing dye (S-3)    1 × 10.sup.-5                                  Coupler (C-2)            0.20                                                 Coupler (C-1)            0.40                                                 Colored coupler (CC-1)   0.04                                                 DIR coupler (D-2)        0.10                                                 High boiling solvent (Oil-1)                                                                           0.80                                                 ______________________________________                                    

Samples 12 to 21 prepared as above were subjected to imagewise exposureto white light, followed by color development according to the process[I] in Example 1.

The cyan dye densities yielded by varied exposures were measured on eachof the processed samples to obtain a photographic sensitometry curve.Then, the point S defined by the following expression was determinedwith respect to the density of cyan images,

    S=D min+0.5

where Dmin is the minimum density.

At the point S, the density was measured with a microdensitometer havingan aperture area of 250 μm² to determine the RMS granularity. Further,after conditioning at 60% RH, each sample was put into a moisture-proofbag and subjected to heat treatment at 40° C. for 50 days, followed bycolor development by the process [I]. Then, the difference in minimumcyan density between before and after the heat treatment (Δd) wasdetermined.

Moreover, the samples undergone the imagewise exposure to white lightwere color-developed according to the following process [II].

    ______________________________________                                        Processing [II]                                                               Color developing      3 min 15 sec                                                                             38° C.                                Bleach-fixing         2 min 00 sec                                                                             38° C.                                Washing               1 min 40 sec                                                                             38° C.                                Fixing                40 sec     38° C.                                (Color developer)                                                             Diethylenetriamine pentacetate                                                                      1.0        g                                            1-hydroxyethylidene-1,1-diphosphonic acid                                                           2.0        g                                            Sodium sulfite        4.0        g                                            Potassium carbonate   30.0       g                                            Potassium bromide     1.4        g                                            Potassium iodide      1.3        mg                                           Hydroxylamine sulfate 2.4        g                                            4-(N-ethyl-N-β-hydroxyethylamino)-2-                                                           4.5        g                                            methylaniline sulfate                                                         Water to make         1          l                                                                  pH 10.00                                                (Bleach-fixer)                                                                Ammonium ferric ethylenediamine                                                                     80.0       g                                            tetracetate                                                                   Disodium ethylenediamine tetracetate                                                                10.0       g                                            Bleaching accelerator 1.5        g                                            Sodium sulfite        12.0       g                                            Aqueous solution of ammonium thiosulfate                                                            240        ml                                           (70%)                                                                         Water to make         1          l                                            With aqueous ammonia (28%)                                                                          pH 6.8                                                  (Stabilizer)                                                                  Formalin (37% wt)     2.0        ml                                           Polyoxyethylene-p-monononylphenolether                                                              0.3        g                                            (average polymerization degree: 10)                                           Disodium ethylenediamine tetracetate                                                                0.05       g                                            Water to make         1          l                                                                  pH 6.0                                                  ______________________________________                                    

The infrared density (1,000 nm) at the maximum density portion of eachprocessed film was measured to evaluate desilverizing property.

The results are shown in Table 2, which summarizes the evaluationresults on the RMS granularity, stability in high temperature storageand infrared absorption density.

                  TABLE 2                                                         ______________________________________                                        Sample No.  RMS.sup.1)  ΔD.sup.2)                                                                      IR Density.sup.3)                              ______________________________________                                        12 Comparison                                                                             100         100    20                                             13 Comparison                                                                             80          200    100                                            14 Comparison                                                                             75          250    160                                            15 Invention                                                                              60          80     20                                             16 Invention                                                                              60          40     10                                             17 Invention                                                                              55          50      5                                             18 Invention                                                                              50          55     10                                             19 Invention                                                                              75          80     10                                             20 Invention                                                                              80          90     40                                             21 Invention                                                                              105         110    180                                            ______________________________________                                         .sup.1) Expressed by a value relative to RMS granularity of Sample 12         which is set at 100 (a smaller value means better granularity).               .sup.2) Expressed by a value relative to Δd of Sample 12 which is       set at 100 (a smaller value means better storage stability).                  .sup.3) Expressed by a value relative to infrared density of Sample 13        which is set at 100 (a smaller value means better desilverizing property)                                                                              

It can be understood from the results in Table 2 that the samples of theinvention are lower in RMS granularity and better in graininess than thesamples for comparison and cause less change in the minimum density evenafter the heat treatment, besides having an excellent desilverizingproperty in a rapid processing.

What is claimed is:
 1. A silver halide color photographiclight-sensitive material comprising a support having thereon ared-sensitive silver halide emulsion layer, a green-sensitive silverhalide emulsion layer and a blue-sensitive silver halide emulsion layer,wherein said green-sensitive emulsion layer has a three-layeredstructure, in which a low speed silver halide emulsion layer, mediumspeed silver halide emulsion layer and high speed silver halide emulsionlayer are coated on said support in this order; and the coating amountof silver in the layers increases in the order of the medium speedlayer, low speed layer and high speed layer.
 2. The photographicmaterial of claim 1, wherein the red-sensitive silver halide emulsionlayer and the green-sensitive siler halide emulsion layer each have thelayer structure in which the low speed layer, medium speed layer andhigh speed layer are coated on a support in this order.
 3. Thephotographic material of claim 2, wherein the blue-sensitive silverhalide emulsion layer has the layer structure in which the low speedlayer, medium speed layer and high speed layer are coated on a supportin this order.
 4. The photographic material of claim 1, wherein thetotal coating amount of silver in the photographic material is 2.0 to10.0 g/m².
 5. The photographic material of claim 4, wherein the totalamount of silver is 4.0 to 8.0 g/m².